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No jail time in plea deal for South Burlington teen accused of sending 'murder list'

Josiah Leach, center, of South Burlington, arrives at U.S. District Court in Burlington on Friday, May 26, 2017, accompanied by his step brother, LeonMcKenzie. Leach, accused of making death threats against South Burlington High School teachers and students in April, was back in court after prosecutors said he violated his conditions of release,(Photo: AKI SOGA/FREE PRESS)Buy Photo

A teenager accused of making threats against fellow South Burlington High School students and staff is expected to avoid trial and plead guilty this week, according to a plea agreement filed Monday.

Josiah Leach's lawyer and federal prosecutors will both recommend to a judge that the teen receives a sentence of five years on probation, according to the agreement.

Leach, 19, was indicted earlier this year on a charge related to sending an email April 20 with a "murder list" of targeted students and faculty.

The escalating threats prompted three days of lockdowns at South Burlington High School, along with one day where classes were canceled entirely.

The charge to which Leach is expected to plead guilty carries a possible sentence of up to five years in prison, three years supervised release and up to $250,000 in fines. He will also need to pay a $100 special assessment.

The judge will have final say on Leach's punishment. Leach is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Burlington Friday morning to enter the new plea.

According to the plea agreement, Leach will be admitting to sending at least eight threats from April 18 to 21 described in the original complaint. He will also admit that "he attempted to obstruct justice by fabricating admissions to the crime he committed while pretending to be another person on Facebook."

"Josiah Leach agrees to plead guilty because he is, in fact, guilty of the ... crime," the plea agreement states.

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Josiah Leach leaves U.S. District Court in Burlington on Thursday, April 27, 2017. Leach is accused of making the death threats that shut down South Burlington High School for several days.(Photo: GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS)

Records outlining the government's case against Leach say he told investigators he sent the threats because he felt he had been treated like a joke and wanted others to feel the same way. Prosecutors have not explained why Leach said he felt mistreated.

Leach's conditions of release prohibit him from coming within 500 feet of South Burlington High or Middle schools and from having any contact with South Burlington High School community members.

Leach was jailed briefly in May after the government accused him of violating conditions of release by using the internet. A judge freed Leach after he promised to abide by a strict ban on internet use.

According to the agreement, the government will not charge Leach with any other crimes known to them at this point. Leach must refrain from committing any further crimes as a condition of the agreement.

Contact Elizabeth Murray at 651-4835 or emurray@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LizMurrayBFP.